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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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FERDINAND I. AND THE COUNCIL. IQI<br />

5. <strong>The</strong> Protestants declare that <strong>the</strong>y were treated too<br />

severely and harshly at <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> Trent ; <strong>the</strong>y did not<br />

receive <strong>the</strong> letter <strong>of</strong> safe-conduct in <strong>the</strong> desired form, and<br />

were not listened to sufficiently. As <strong>the</strong>ir participation<br />

can be obtained in no o<strong>the</strong>r way, aU <strong>the</strong>ir wishes in this<br />

respect must be granted.<br />

6. Great difficulties were created by <strong>the</strong> Pope's intention<br />

<strong>of</strong> continuing <strong>the</strong> former Council by removing <strong>the</strong> suspension.<br />

As far as <strong>the</strong> Emperor personally is concerned, he has not <strong>the</strong><br />

shghtest idea <strong>of</strong> calling in question <strong>the</strong> decrees <strong>drawn</strong> up by<br />

<strong>the</strong> Council, but a difficulty in <strong>the</strong> way <strong>of</strong> a continuation is<br />

<strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> Protestants intend to place <strong>the</strong> matters<br />

already dealt with upon <strong>the</strong> agenda, and various Christian<br />

princes—<strong>the</strong> allusion is to France—will not acknowledge<br />

<strong>the</strong> former assembly as a General Council. Finally, reference<br />

is made to <strong>the</strong> fact that, instead <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two years for which<br />

<strong>the</strong> Council was suspended, eight have already elapsed.<br />

<strong>The</strong>refore, " as it is very evident how difficult <strong>the</strong> convoca-<br />

tion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council is, as its progress must be slow, its results<br />

uncertain, and <strong>the</strong> carrying out <strong>of</strong> its decrees attended with<br />

much greater danger than was formerly <strong>the</strong> case," <strong>the</strong> Emperor<br />

advises <strong>the</strong> Pope to have recourse to o<strong>the</strong>r means for <strong>the</strong><br />

preservation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Catholic faith, and <strong>the</strong> prevention <strong>of</strong><br />

fur<strong>the</strong>r defections. As such he would propose, before summoning<br />

a Council, a thorough reform <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> clergy, and, in <strong>the</strong><br />

meantime, to allow <strong>the</strong> laity <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chalice, and to give<br />

priests permission to marry.<br />

To this document was attached a memorandum which<br />

once more briefly recapitulated <strong>the</strong> attitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor<br />

towards <strong>the</strong> plan <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council, and limited <strong>the</strong> concession<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chalice to <strong>the</strong> laity, and <strong>the</strong> marriage <strong>of</strong> priests to<br />

Germany. <strong>The</strong>se two documents were handed to Hosius<br />

on June 20th. ^ In <strong>the</strong> negotiations that followed, <strong>the</strong> latter<br />

proved himself by no means capable <strong>of</strong> fulfilling his duties.<br />

It would have been easy to show^ that <strong>the</strong> realization <strong>of</strong><br />

1 See Hosius to Borromeo, June 21, 1560, in Steinherz, I.,<br />

" CJ. Steinherz, I., Ixiii.

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